Magnitude 6.7 earthquake strikes Japan, triggering tsunami warning

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) upgraded Friday’s quake to a 6.7 magnitude and warned that tsunami waves of up to one metre (three feet) could hit the northern Pacific coastline.

Two 20cm (7 inches) waves had so far been recorded, one in the town of Erimo on the main northern island of Hokkaido at 12.35pm, and another three minutes later in the Aomori region, the agency said.

Broadcaster NHK said there was no obvious change at either of the ports.

The United States Geological Survey also said that the quake measured 6.7 and was 130km (81 miles) off the city of Kuji in Iwate prefecture on the main island of Honshu.

NHK said that the level of shaking was less than the bigger 7.5 tremor late on Monday, which knocked items off shelves, tore apart roads, smashed windows and triggered tsunami waves of up to 70cm.